Sweden: Sandvik has appointed Henrik Ager as president of its Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology division and a member of the Sandvik Group executive management with effect from 1 April 2019. He succeeds Lars Engström, who will leave Sandvik.

Ager holds over 16 years of experience in the minding industry with positions held in South Africa, Australia, South America and India. He is currently the president for the Rock Tools division in Sandvik. Prior to this, he was the president for the Global Equipment division and Vice President for Strategy within Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology. He also worked for McKinsey and Ericsson.

Australia: Boral has made a number of changes to its senior executive team that will take effect from 1 March 2019. Joe Goss, currently Chief Executive Boral Australia, moves to a senior advisory role reporting to Boral’s chief executive officer (CEO) and managing director, Mike Kane.

Wayne Manners, currently Executive General Manager, Western Australia, Building Products & Major Projects, will become President and CEO Boral Australia.

Ross Harper, currently Executive General Manager Cement will become Group President Operations, responsible for Boral Australia and Boral North America as well as Group HS&E. Ross will be working closely with Wayne Manners and David Mariner (President & CEO Boral North America) in this new role.

Ros Ng, currently Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Chair of USG Boral will have an expanded role as Group President Ventures and CFO, which includes Group Strategy and M&A and broader responsibility for the USG Boral and Meridian Brick joint ventures. Ros will work closely with Frederic de Rougemont (CEO USG Boral) and Chris Fenwick (CEO Meridian Brick) to deliver the strategy and results of the joint ventures.

In addition to these changes, Greg Price, currently Executive General Manager, New South Wales, for Boral Australia will take on an expanded role, including responsibility for Boral’s Project Management Office, which manages major projects.

US: The US Senate has confirmed Andrew Wheeler as the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). He had been working as acting administrator since the resignation of Scott Pruitt in July 2018. The Portland Cement Association ‘applauded’ the appointment of Wheeler, saying that he would ‘ensure’ regulatory certainty for the cement and concrete industry.

US: Plibrico has appointed Roger Smith as its Technical Manager. He will be responsible for development of refractory formulas and providing technical guidance to the company’s partners and customers. Smith will report to Plibrico’s Vice President of Engineering, Dan Szynal.

Smith holds 15 years of experience in the processing, characterisation and testing of traditional and advanced ceramics. Prior to Plibrico, his previous positions include RHI Magnesita and Bucher Emhart Glass, where he was a ceramist for almost 10 years. As a ceramist, Smith conducted technical customer visits to address performance concerns, developed and commercialised new refractory material.

Smith is a member of the America Ceramic Society, serving as chairman of the St Louis, Missouri section from 2014 - 2016. He also was a member of the ASTM Committee C08 on refractories from 2010 - 2017. Smith holds a Master’s degree in Ceramic Engineering from the University of Missouri-Rolla.